Is it legal to play at online casinos in North Carolina?
If you read the SUBCHAPTER XI of Article 37 of the North Carolina Penal Code, you will see the state’s laws around lotteries, gaming, bingo, and raffles. According to the laws in North Carolina, all forms of online gambling and slot machines are illegal.
If you are found to be playing or operating any game of chance where there is an opportunity to win money, property, or anything else of value, you will be considered in violation of the law. If you are convicted and charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor, GS 14-292.
If you were hoping to play at some retail slot machines across North Carolina, you might not be able to find those either. According to § 14‑306.1A of the North Carolina legal code, there’s a strict ban on owning or operating slot machines.
This is what the law states:
"Types of machines and devices prohibited by law; penalties.
(a) Ban on Machines. – It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, allow to be operated, place into operation, or keep in that person's possession for the purpose of operation any video gaming machine as defined in subsection (b) of this section, except for the exemption for a federally recognized Indian tribe under subsection (e) of this section for whom it shall be lawful to operate and possess machines as listed in subsection (b) of this section if conducted in accordance with an approved Class III Tribal‑State Compact applicable to that tribe, as provided in G.S. 147‑12(14) and G.S. 71A‑8."
As you can see, land-based casinos are legally allowed in tribal and Indian lands across the United States, under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C. § 2701. So while you cannot find legal online casinos in North Carolina, you can always drive to one of the three tribal casinos found in the state.
While you cannot yet cash in on a real money online casino in North Carolina with no deposit bonuses, you can easily bet on sports online or buy lottery tickets. There are a few different forms of legal and regulated gambling opportunities in the state. We have listed them below for you.:
- Tribal land casinos
- State lottery and online lottery
- Online sports betting
- Sweepstakes casinos
In the section below, we will dive into more details about the North Carolina sweepstakes, which is slowly emerging as a go-to alternative to online casino gaming in the state.
Is it legal to play at sweepstakes casinos in North Carolina?
If you are looking for online casino games in the state, North Carolina sweepstakes casinos are probably your best bet. The good news is that they are legal in the state, as long as the
sweepstakes casinos
can distinguish themselves from online gambling. Below, we have elaborated on what makes North Carolina sweepstakes casinos legal:
- North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 14, Article 37- Lotteries and Gaming (§ 14-306.4):
According to this section of the law, as long as sweepstakes do not involve elements of gambling, such as betting or wagering to win something of value or playing a purely game of chance,
sweepstakes casinos will be deemed legal. As long as an operator adheres to sweepstakes laws in North Carolina and keeps the entry ‘free’, they shall not be penalized or considered illegal.
- Ban on Electronic Sweepstakes Machines (§ 14-306.4):
According to our review of the law, all electronic sweepstakes machines, the kind you will find in some retail locations and internet cafes, are banned in North Carolina. So if you want to play sweepstakes games in North Carolina, make sure to open up an online account with one of the reputed sweepstakes sites and not play at any of the illegal sweepstakes machines.
Are sweepstakes casinos operating in the state of North Carolina licensed?
All North Carolina sweepstakes casinos can operate legally in the state, as long as they distinguish themselves from gambling operations in the state. As we mentioned, online gambling is prohibited in the state of North Carolina, and the only licensed casinos in the state are the 3 tribal casinos.
All online casinos offering sweepstakes games in North Carolina will be allowed to operate legally as long as they keep all entries to the sweepstakes free and do not purely offer games of chance. Additionally, those who participate in sweepstakes should not be asked to make a deposit or purchase of any kind, in return for something valuable.
How do you identify which sweepstakes casinos are legit?
Unfortunately, you will not yet find real money online casinos in North Carolina with no deposit bonuses; however, several sweepstakes casinos have incredible welcome bonuses. Our only word of advice is to do your due diligence before trying a new site.
To help you decide if the sweepstakes site you are looking at is legit, we have compiled an easy checklist:
Read player reviews on social media
Always read reviews about a sweepstakes site before opening a new account. We recommend platforms Reddit, Trustpilot, and Facebook, where you can find genuine reviews from other players.
Don't pay any deposit to play the games
If a sweepstakes casino asks you to pay a fee, make a deposit, or make any kind of mandatory purchase to access sweepstakes games in North Carolina, do not engage with that site at all. Besides losing your money, you could also be potentially breaking the law by playing on a non-compliant site like this.
Check out our reviews and list of legit sweepstakes casinos
Our sweepstakes casino experts go to great lengths to bring you the latest and most updated information about both established and new sweepstakes casinos across the United States. So we encourage you to check out our reviews and guides before proceeding with registration on a new site.
Running a quick background check on a sweepstakes casino can protect your peace and your money. So make sure to understand the sweepstakes rules in North Carolina and check whether the sweepstakes site is following those rules.
What potential future updates on online casinos in North Carolina can the people expect?
The year 2024 has been a big year for gambling legislation in the state of North Carolina. Below, we have outlined some of the most current policy changes and what to expect in the future.
- The Sports Betting Legalization Effect:
In 2024, owing to bipartisan efforts to get sports betting legalized in North Carolina, the state finally passed legislation to make
online sportsbooks legal
across the state. To date, 8 sportsbooks have launched in North Carolina, including famous names like BetMGM, FanDuel, and more.
- The future of online casinos is still uncertain:
According to experts who forecast what subjects will and will not feature in North Carolina’s legislative priorities for the upcoming year, online casino legalization will not be a major priority anytime soon. Although many folks hoped that sports betting legalization would pave the way for online casinos, no such discussion has taken place in the legislative chambers. Some experts believe that it could come up in 2025 but given that no House Democrats or Republicans have introduced a bill in this regard, there is no clarity on which side of the aisle such a bill can originate from.
While there have been no recent updates on the fate of the bill and when online casinos in the state will be legalized, we can only hope that there will be some major legislative pushes in the future.
No-deposit bonus wagering requirements in North Carolina
While there are no real money online casinos in North Carolina with
no deposit bonuses, you will find plenty of welcome bonuses on sweepstakes casino sites. Usually, you can redeem your SC for cash prizes and gift cards at most of these sweepstakes casinos, as the SC is rewarded to you for free and cannot be purchased.
However, in most cases, you won’t be able to immediately redeem your SC once it is given to you, even if you have the required amount. Most of these bonuses come with
playthrough requirements. For example, the welcome bonus at McLuck Casino comes with 27.5 free SC, which needs to be played through once before redeeming it.
We have compiled a list of the top no-deposit bonuses; you can find North Carolina sweepstakes below. Make sure to read into their redemption requirements in more detail before you proceed.
| Sweepstakes Casino |
No-deposit bonus |
Playthrough requirements |
| Stake US |
$25 Stake Cash + 250k GC |
3x before redemption |
| McLuck |
27.5 Free SC + Up to 57.500 GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption: 75 SC for cash, 100 SC for gift cards |
| Sportzino |
SC 7 Welcome Bonus + Up to GC 170,000 |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming |
| High 5 Casino |
5 SC Free + 250 Game Coins and 600 Diamonds |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption; 50 SC for a gift card, 100 SC for cash prizes |
| WOW Vegas |
35 SC Free and 1.75M WOW Coins |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption |
| Vegas Gems |
1K Gems + 50% Extra Gems On First Purchase |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming: 100 SC required at the minimum for a redemption |
| Fortune Coins |
1,400 Fortune Coins Free 650,000 GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption |
| Sweeptastic |
50% First Purchase Discount: Get 40K Lucky Coins + 40 SC Free |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming; 100 SC minimum for redemption |
| Hello Millions |
2.5 SC +15,000 GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming |
| Zula Casino |
Get 10 SC Sign-up Bonus + 100K GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption; 50 SC is the minimum required for redemption |
What are users saying about playing sweepstakes casinos online in North Carolina?
If you have seen the retail sweepstakes arcades across North Carolina and are wondering how they are legal when gambling is illegal in the state, then we have some updates for you. We looked at Reddit to see how others are faring with sweepstakes laws in North Carolina and what is most people’s understanding of it.
As you can see in the comment below, the main distinction a sweepstakes has to make is between a game of skill and a game of chance. Most of the
sweepstakes casino slots
are designed in a way that there is some element of skill that sets it apart from pure games of chance and make it legal.
As we mentioned in the section above, slot machines in physical locations are not completely legal in the state, and it depends on the local sheriff's department if they will enforce the laws. In another comment, someone reaffirmed how 'sweepstakes parlors’ are legal because they offer games of skill.
However, you can play at sweepstakes casino sites online without breaking any laws, since they are legal. The comment below from a Redditor is a great explanation of how sweepstakes are different from gambling.
As more and more NC residents wake up to the concept of sweepstakes casinos, it is slowly becoming the go-to alternative for NC residents who want to play online casino games legally. We can confirm after our review of what others are saying online, that sweepstakes casinos in North Carolina are the best alternative for online real money casinos, which are not legal in the state yet.
Final thoughts on sweepstakes casinos in North Carolina
While online casinos are illegal in North Carolina,
sports betting, online lotteries, and some forms of bingo and raffles are legal in the state. The other form of online gaming that is legal is sweepstakes casinos, which offer free games of skill to players.
It does not seem that North Carolina will be legalizing online casinos anytime in the future but until then, sweepstakes casinos offer a safe, legal, and free way to enjoy online casino gaming from the comfort of your home.
North Carolina Legal Sweepstakes Casino FAQ
👮 Are sweepstakes casinos legal in North Carolina?
Yes, sweepstakes casinos are currently legal in North Carolina, as long as they distinguish themselves from ‘gambling’ and offer free games of skill to players online without requiring any deposit or purchase to enter the sweepstakes.
🤔 Are online sweepstakes legal in North Carolina?
Online sweepstakes will be considered legal in North Carolina, as long as they do not involve any elements of gambling. This means that no ‘consideration’ can be involved in the game, no purchase or deposit can be made mandatory to enter the sweepstakes and all games have to be games of skill and cannot be purely games of chance.
🪪 Are Internet sweepstakes Cafe legal in North Carolina?
The internet sweepstakes cafes exist in a legal gray zone in North Carolina. A lot of them are illegal since they offer games of chance but few of them keep updating their games to stay legal. Overall, they are not considered legal in the state.
🤑 What happens if you win money at a sweepstakes casino?
You cannot exactly win money at a sweepstakes casino since you are not playing with real money. However, you can win SC coins, which can be redeemed for cash prizes and gift cards if you fulfill the eligibility criteria.
🧭 Can I play online casino in North Carolina?
No, you cannot play at an online casino in North Carolina since they are illegal. However, you can play at online sweepstakes casinos since they are legal in the state.
🙋 Are lotteries legal in North Carolina?
Yes, online lotteries are considered legal in North Carolina.
🙂↕️ Are sweepstakes closing down in North Carolina?
Since 2010, video slots at internet cafes have been illegal in North Carolina. However, there are several such internet cafes that you can find around you. There is no news on whether some of the illegal joints will be closed down soon. To avoid breaking the law, make sure to only play at a legit sweepstakes site online.
🧑⚖️ What is the punishment for gambling in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, gambling is considered a Class 2 misdemeanor according to GS 14-292. You can be fined or even imprisoned based on the scale of your offense.
🧐 Is Stake.us legal in North Carolina?
Yes, Stake.us is a legit sweepstakes casino that does not require a deposit or mandatory purchase for players to access the games. It is legal and open for access to players based in North Carolina.
⁉️ Is bingo legal in North Carolina?
Only some forms of bingo are legal in North Carolina and all of these require prior state authorization.
Disclaimer:
Kindly note that we are not legal or tax experts. While we always strive to present the most accurate information, this is not binding legal advice. Always reach out to a licensed lawyer or tax advisor when in doubt.
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